JPH10339993A - Toner supply method, toner container and electrophotographic image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the number of parts and assembly man-hour and to reduce production cost by putting a toner container sideways and rocking it, so that toner in the toner container is stirred and moved to a toner discharge port and fed out from the toner discharge port. SOLUTION: In a state where the toner container 1 is rotated, the toner between a guiding blade 2R1 and a rear end wall 1a, between guiding blades 2L1 and 2R2, between guiding blades 2L2 and 2R3 and between guiding blades 2L3 and 2R4 passes through a path (g) between the blade 2R1 and the wall 1a and paths (b), (d) and (f) between the right and left twisted adjacent guiding blades deviated by half pitch. The toner goes out to space between the wall 1a and the blade 2L1, between the blades 2L1 and 2L2, between the blades 2L2 and 2L3 and between the blade 2L3 and the toner discharge port 4 and is stirred to be fed to the discharge port 4 side. Namely, since the toner is carried without coming in contact with a stirring member, etc., there is no fear that large-sized particles are made because the toner is melted and stuck.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner supply method for supplying toner to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a printer, a toner container, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

[0002]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a further development of the prior art described below, and has as its object to provide a toner supply method, a toner container and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus as described below. I do. (1) Reduction of manufacturing cost (2) Reduction of driving torque for discharging toner from toner container (3) Prevention of toner leakage (4) Prevention of generation of coarse particles to which toner is fused and fixed (5) Space of image forming apparatus main body Effective use (6) Large capacity toner container (7) Easy to recycle (8) Effectively loosen toner and discharge it

[0003]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner discharge opening extending leftward and rightward from the center alternately in the left and right directions when viewed from the axial direction. A hollow cylindrical toner container having a projection, and a swinging means for supporting the toner container and swinging so that the left and right projections alternately ascend and descend when the toner container is viewed from the axial direction. The toner supply method is characterized in that the toner in the toner container is moved to the toner discharge port while stirring and the toner is sent out from the toner discharge port by placing the toner container horizontally and swinging.

A second invention according to the present invention is used in a horizontal position, and is internally provided with a lead to a toner discharge port from the center of the left and right sides alternately to the left and right as viewed from the axial direction. And a hollow cylindrical container main body having a projected portion, and a toner discharge port at an end portion, and the projected portion provided on an inner wall.

A third invention according to the present application is the toner container according to the second invention, wherein the left and right projections have overlapping portions when the container body is viewed from the axial direction.

A fourth invention according to the present application is characterized in that the lower end of the left or right projection forms a passage through which toner passes between the left and right projections and the opposite projection. A toner container according to the second or third aspect of the present invention.

A fifth invention according to the present application is the toner container according to the second invention, wherein the toner outlet is plugged with a cap after the container body is filled with toner.

A sixth invention according to the present application is the toner container according to the second invention, wherein the protrusion is a plate-like guide member.

A seventh invention according to the present application is the toner container according to the second invention, wherein the container main body is cylindrical and has a toner outlet at the center of the cylindrical end plate.

An eighth invention according to the present application is characterized in that the container main body is cylindrical, and near the bottom of the cylinder, the cylindrical end plate has a long toner discharge port on the left and right sides of the swing neutral position. It is a toner container according to the second invention.

A ninth invention according to the present application is characterized in that the container main body is cylindrical and the projections are each helical around the center of the circumference of the container main body. A toner container according to any one of the eighth aspect of the present invention.

A tenth invention according to the present application is characterized in that the container main body has a bottom surface of a horizontal plane which cuts the cylinder at the bottom of the cylinder, and the projection is linear.
It is a toner container according to any one of the inventions.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, the container body is used so as to be swingable about the center of the container body. 2. The container according to claim 2, wherein the position is further away from the vertical line drawn from the center of the container body toward the dead center side. 3.
0. The toner container according to claim 1, wherein

A twelfth invention according to the present application is the toner container according to any one of the second to ninth inventions, wherein the container main body has a right cylindrical shape.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the container body has a hollow cylindrical portion, and a hollow conical portion having a diameter decreasing toward the toner discharge port concentric with the cylindrical portion following the cylindrical portion. The toner container according to any one of the second to ninth aspects or the eleventh aspect, comprising:

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, when the container main body is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body at the same center as the container main body, a gear meshing with a gear of the image forming apparatus main body is integrally or fixedly provided. The toner container according to any one of the second to thirteenth inventions, wherein

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a toner container is mounted, toner is supplied, and an image is formed on a recording medium. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum; b. Developing means for developing the latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum using toner; c. It is used horizontally and has a protrusion extending from the center to the left and right sides alternately to the left and right from the center to the left and right when viewed from the axial direction. A hollow cylindrical container body provided with the protrusion on the inner wall,
Mounting means for removably mounting a toner container filled with toner, d. Rocking means for rocking the toner container mounted on the mounting means; e. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: a toner hopper for storing toner used in the developing unit that receives toner sent from a toner outlet of a toner container.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the toner container has a gear integrally or fixed to the container body at the same center as the container body of the toner container on the outer periphery and swingably supported by the image forming apparatus main body. The oscillating means has a forward / reverse motor and a gear train driven by the motor, and an output gear of the gear train meshes with the gear provided in the toner container. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the invention.

A seventeenth invention according to the present application is characterized in that the swing means has a holder for mounting the toner container, and has a swing device for swinging the holder.
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the invention.

According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, the toner container has a toner discharge port hermetically sealed with a cap, and has an opening means interlocked with a door operation for opening and closing the toner container mounting portion of the image forming apparatus main body. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to any one of the fifteenth to seventeenth aspects, characterized in that:

A nineteenth invention according to the present application is the electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the eighteenth invention, wherein the opening device performs an opening operation when the door is closed.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, the door is opened and closed by rotating, and a gear that rotates together with the door concentrically with a center of rotation of the door, and an opening that meshes with the gear. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the eighteenth or nineteenth aspect, further comprising an opener having a rack in a stopper direction, movably supported in an opening and closing direction, and having an engagement portion with a cap.

[0023]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, fine powder toner has been used as a developer in image forming apparatuses such as electrophotographic copying machines and printers. When the developer in the image forming apparatus main body is consumed, toner is supplied to the image forming apparatus using a toner container.

Since the toner is an extremely fine powder, there has been a problem that the toner scatters during the toner replenishing operation and stains the operator and the surroundings. For this reason, a method has been proposed and put into practice in which a toner container is set inside the image forming apparatus main body, and toner is discharged little by little from a small opening.
In such a system, it is difficult to discharge the toner naturally by the action of gravity or the like, and some kind of toner stirring and conveying means is required.

Therefore, a spiral toner agitating / conveying member is provided inside the toner container, and penetrates an end wall surface of the toner container to be driven from the outside of the container. The side opposite to the drive side of the stirring member is a free end.

A part of the stirring member penetrating the end wall surface of the toner container requires some kind of bearing seal mechanism. The structure of the seal mechanism is generally such that a gear member is connected to the end of the stirring member, and the seal member is sandwiched between the gear member and the container wall surface. As a seal member, a donut-shaped wool felt, an oil seal, or the like is often used.

The toner container is used while being mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus. The toner is conveyed by being rotated by a toner stirring and conveying member by driving from the main body side of the image forming apparatus, and the toner is dropped little by little from the opening. (JP-B-7-113796, JP-A-6-113796).
-99176 gazette).

It has also been proposed to discharge a toner by rotating a cylindrical toner container having a screw blade therein (see JP-A-7-44000).

[0029]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus having a toner supply device according to the present invention.

An original 101 is placed on an original platen glass 102 and arranged so that information of the original is imaged on a photosensitive drum 104 by a plurality of mirrors and lenses of an optical unit 103. Based on information input by a user from an operation unit (not shown) of the sheets P stacked in the sheet feeding cassettes 105 to 108 or the sheet size of the document 101, an optimum sheet feeding cassette 105 to
108 is selected from the paper size information. Then, one sheet of paper P transported by the paper feeding / separating devices 105A to 108A is transported to the registration roller 110 via the transport unit 109, and the rotation of the photosensitive drum 104 and the optical unit 10
The sheet P is conveyed in synchronization with the timing of the scan 3. The paper P on which the toner image on the photosensitive drum 104 has been transferred by the transfer / separation chargers 111 and 112 is transported by a transport unit 113.
To reach the fixing unit 114 and the fixing unit 11
After fixing the toner on the paper P by heat and pressure in 4) 1) In the case of one-sided copy, the paper P passes through the paper discharge reversing unit 115 and is discharged to the paper discharge tray 117 by the paper discharge roller 116. 2) In the case of multiplex copy, the paper P is re-fed and conveyed by the flapper 118 of the paper discharge reversing unit 115.
0, is conveyed to the registration roller 110, passes through the image forming, conveying, and fixing units in the same manner as described above, and is then discharged onto the paper discharge tray 117. 3) In the case of double-sided copying, a part of the paper P is discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the paper discharge roller 116 once through the paper discharge reversing unit 115,
At the timing when the end of the paper P passes through the flapper 118 and is pinched by the discharge roller 116, the flapper 1
18, the sheet discharge roller 116 is rotated in the reverse direction, the sheet P is conveyed again into the apparatus, conveyed through the re-feed conveying paths 119 and 120, conveyed to the registration rollers 110, and formed and conveyed in the same manner as described above. After passing through the fixing section, this time the discharge tray 11
7 is discharged.

In the electrophotographic image forming apparatus having the above-described structure, a developing device 201, a cleaning device 202, a primary charging device 203, and other devices are arranged around the photosensitive drum 104. The developing device 201 is provided with the photosensitive drum 104 to clarify information obtained by forming information of the document 101 on the photosensitive drum 104 by the optical unit 103 as an electrostatic latent image.
Supplying the toner to be adsorbed on the developing device 2
Reference numeral 01 denotes a toner container 1 for replenishing toner, which is detachably provided in the apparatus main body 14.

In the above description, the developing device 201 has the developing roller 201a with a very small gap (about 300 μm) from the photosensitive drum 104.
01b, a triboelectric charge is applied to the toner, a thin toner layer is formed on the developing roller 201a, and a developing bias is applied between the developing roller 201a and the photosensitive drum 104 to develop the latent image on the photosensitive drum 104.

The toner reduced by the development is stored in the toner hopper 201c.
When the toner runs out in c, it is detected by a toner remaining amount detecting means (not shown) and displayed on a display unit (not shown). As a result, the user opens the door 21 as shown in FIG. 14, attaches the toner container 1 filled with toner, and closes the door 21 as shown in FIG.
Is opened, the toner container 1 swings with the operation of the image forming apparatus, and toner is supplied to the toner hopper 201c of the apparatus main body 14.

FIG. 1 shows the entire toner container according to the present invention. The hollow cylindrical toner container 1 is provided on its inner wall with guide blades 2 having a protruding shape forming a spiral portion as a toner guide member alternately. The flange 3 formed integrally with the toner container 1 is provided on its outer periphery with a gear 3a for swinging drive. Further, a toner outlet 4 is provided on a front end wall 1b which is one end wall of the toner container 1.
Is open. The other rear end wall 1a is closed. That is, the toner container 1 has a container shape. In the above, the toner container 1, the gear 3a, and the toner outlet 4 have the same center.

The toner container 1 is formed of a plastic material such as polyethylene, and is preferably manufactured by a method such as injection molding, blow molding, or injection blow molding. However, other materials and manufacturing methods may be used. . Although it is preferable that these are formed integrally, a method of dividing them into two or more parts and integrating them by means such as welding and bonding may be employed.

Because of such a very simple structure, it can be easily recovered and reused, or can be easily decomposed and regenerated as a material.

As shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), the guide blades 2R1, R2, 2R3, 2 which are twisted rightward along the inner wall of the toner container 1 when viewed from the opposite side of the toner discharge port 4 in the axial direction.
R4 (generally referred to as 2R) are provided at an equal pitch P, and the guide blades 2L of the left twist are shifted from the guide blades of the right twist 2R in the middle of the guide blades 2R of the right twist by 1/2 pitch.
1, 2L2 and 2L3 (collectively 2L) are provided at an equal pitch P. The left and right guide blades 2R and 2L have the same twist angle. As shown in FIG. 3B, these guide blades 2R and 2L are partially provided in the lower half circle of the toner container 1 symmetrically, respectively, and the left and right guide blades 2R and 2L overlap each other when viewed from the axial direction. Having. In this example, the left and right guide blades 2R and 2L are located in a range slightly larger than the quadrant.
It is arranged in. When the toner container 1 is viewed from the opposite side of the toner discharge port 4 in the axial direction, each of the guide blades 2R and 2L starts at the lowermost end portion 2E with a space between the guide blades 2R and 2L on the front side of the half pitch and having a reverse twist. In addition, passages a, b, c, d, e, and f are provided between the guide blades facing the lowermost ends 2E. A passage g is provided between the lowermost end 2E of the guide blade 2R1 and the rear end wall 1a.

The guide blades 2R, 2L are plate-shaped, and stand upright with respect to the inner wall of the toner container 1.

Next, the image forming apparatus main body 14 of the toner container 1
A description will be given, with reference to FIG. First, the operator opens the apparatus main body door 21 provided corresponding to the position of the developing device (not shown) of the image forming apparatus main body, and sets the toner container 1 in the holder 10. The holder 10 swingably supports the toner container 1 about the center of the cylinder of the set toner container 10. in this case,
With the holder 10 fixed, the toner container 1 may be rotatably fitted to the holder 10, and the holder 10 is swingably supported and the toner container 1 is It may be fixed. Holder 10 in any case
Does not move in the axial direction, and the toner container 1 is held by the holder 10 so as not to move in the axial direction. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the convex portion 5 of the cap 5 sealing the outlet 4 is provided.
The U-shaped groove 23a of the opener 23 in which the root groove 5b of a is provided in the image forming apparatus main body 14 so as to be movable in the direction indicated by the arrow.
Engages. Next, when the door 21 of the image forming apparatus main body 14 is closed around the pivot 21a, the gear portion 22 provided at the center of rotation of the door 21 also rotates integrally, and the rack portion 23b meshed with the gear portion 22 is moved. The opener 23 movably supported in parallel with the axial direction of the toner container 1 is shown in FIG.
, The cap 5 is pulled out of the toner container 1. Gear 3 provided in toner container 1
a is an idler gear 1 provided on the image forming apparatus main body 14.
The gear 1 meshes with the gear 12 via the gear 1 and is connected to a motor 13 provided in an image forming apparatus main body 14 having the gear 12.

If the motor 13 is repeatedly rotated forward and backward by a control signal from the image forming apparatus main body 14, the toner container 1 swings together with the holder 10 supported concentrically and swingably with the center of the toner container 1. It is supposed to repeat.

The manner in which toner is conveyed in the toner container 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 (a),
(B), FIGS. 3 (a), (b), and FIGS. 4 (a), (b) each show a lower view (b) of the toner container 1 as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the axis. Each of the figures (a) shown above shows a state observed from directly above in each case.

When the toner container 1 swings clockwise as viewed from the rear end wall 1a as shown in FIGS. 3B to 2B, the toner between the guide blades 2L1 and 2R2 is indicated by an arrow, As shown by, the vehicle goes along the sliding path b along the guide vanes 2L1 and 2R1 to the side where the guide vanes 2L1 and 2L2 face each other. Next, swinging in the counterclockwise direction, FIG.
When the guide vanes 2L1 and 2L come to the neutral position as shown in FIG.
The toner between the two is indicated by an arrow, as shown by the guide blade 2R.
4B, and further swings in the same direction to the position shown in FIG. 4B, the toner between the guide blades 2R2 and 2L2 causes the guide blades 2R2 and 2L to move as indicated by arrows.
Then, the vehicle travels along the slide path c along the path 2 to the side where the guide vanes 2R2 and 2R3 face each other. Further, as it swings clockwise again and passes through the neutral position in FIG. 3B, the toner between the guide blades 2R2 and 2R3 is drawn between the guide blades 2L2 and 2R3 as shown by arrows. .
By repeating these operations, the toner is gradually discharged from the toner outlet 4.
Is transported to

The operation will be described in more detail. The above operation is performed simultaneously on the toner filled in the toner container 1. When the toner container 1 is rotated from FIG. 3B to FIG. 2B, the guide blade 2R1 and the rear Between end walls 1a, between guide vanes 2L1, 2R2, guide vane 2L
2, 2R3, and between the guide blades 2L3, 2R4, the toner g passes between the guide blade 2R1 and the rear end wall 1a, and the passages b, d, f between adjacent guide blades with a half pitch shift left and right twist. And the rear end wall 1a and the guide blade 2 respectively.
L1, between the guide vanes 2L1 and 2L2, between the guide vanes 2L2
The toner exits between the 2L3 and between the guide blade 2L3 and the toner outlet 4, and the toner is stirred and sent to the toner outlet 4 side.

When the toner container 1 swings counterclockwise when viewed from the rear end wall 1a side as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in the above state, the guide blades are located between the rear end wall 1a and the guide blades 2L1. The toner between the guide blades 2L1 and 2L2 and between the guide blades 2L2 and 2L3 is applied between the guide blades 2R1 and 2L1 and the guide blades 2R2 and 2 respectively.
Between L2 and between guide vanes 2R3 and 2L3,
The toner between L3 and the toner outlet 4 hits the front end wall 1b where the toner outlet 4 is located, the toner above it is lifted up, and is fed from the toner outlet 4 into the toner hopper 201c of the image forming apparatus main body 14. You.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the toner container 1 further rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the rear end wall 1a side, between the guide blades 2R1, 2L1, between the guide blades 2R2, 2L2.
And the toner between the guide blades 2R3 and 2L3 passes through the passages a, c,
e, between guide vanes 2R1 and 2R2, guide vane 2R
2, 2R3, between the guide blade 2R3 and the front end wall 1b. The toner between the guide blade 2R4 and the front end wall 1b acts to lift the toner above the guide blade 2R4, and a part of the lifted toner is discharged from the toner discharge port 4 and put into the toner hopper 201c of the image forming apparatus main body 14. Is done.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 3, when the toner container 1 rotates clockwise as viewed from the rear end wall 1a side, between the rear end wall 1a and the guide blades 2R1, between the guide blades 2R1 and 2R2,
The toner between the guide blades 2R2 and 2R3 and the toner between the guide blade 2R3 and the front end wall 1b are respectively removed from the rear end wall 1a and the guide blade 2R1.
Between the guide blades 2L1 and 2R2, the guide blade 2
The travel proceeds between L2 and 2R3 and between the guide vanes 2L3 and 2L4.

By repeating the above, the toner container 1
The toner inside the container advances toward the toner outlet 4, and since the toner outlet 4 is located at the center of the toner container 1 on the toner outlet 4 side, the toner rises and the toner flows from the toner outlet 4 to the image forming apparatus main body 14. Toner hopper 201c
Sent out to

As described above, according to the present invention, since the toner is conveyed regardless of the contact of the stirring member, there is no fear that the toner is melted and fixed to generate coarse particles.

Here, it is preferable that the relationship between the swing angle of the toner container 1 and the guide blade 2 is in the following positional relationship. That is, for example, when the guide blade 2 reaches the upper left dead center as shown in FIG. 2B (the dead center when it is rotated clockwise as viewed from the rear end wall 1a side as shown in FIG. 2). At the lowermost point 2E of the toner container 1 by an angle α. By doing so, the left and right guide blades 2L, 2R have overlapping portions when viewed from the axial direction of the toner container 1, and the toner that has slipped along the left-twisted guide blades 2L1, 2L2, 2L3 is subjected to the next death. By the return swing from the point, the guide blades 2R2, 2R3, and 2R of the right twist near the toner discharge port 4 are further rotated.
It is possible to more efficiently reach the lower side of the surface of each of the toner discharge ports 4 facing the toner discharge port 4.

In FIG. 4B in the state of the upper right dead center, the lowermost end 2E of the guide blade 2L is similarly provided.

Further, at the upper left dead center and the upper right dead center,
It is preferable to provide a stop time of several seconds before starting swinging in the opposite direction. During this time, the toner can be transported over a sufficient distance more efficiently than sliding down.
Specifically, for example, the motor 13 may be temporarily stopped in the swing driving means. Alternatively, it is apparent that the same effect can be obtained by gently turning the swing without completely stopping.

In the present invention, the following effects can be expected.

That is, by oscillating the toner container 1, not only the toner in the toner container 1 can be conveyed, but also sufficient stirring can be performed at the same time. It contributes to tribo. In particular, when the rotation direction of the toner container 1 is switched, a shocking force acts on the toner, so that even the toner solidified through a long period of transportation and leaving can be sufficiently loosened and reliably discharged. From the viewpoint of the toner loosening effect,
The switching of the rotation direction is preferably performed instantaneously without stopping.

Next, the toner discharge port 4 will be described.
In the toner container 1 according to the present invention, there is no particular limitation on the detailed position or shape of the toner outlet 4 as long as there is an opening at the most downstream end of the toner conveyed in the axial direction. Therefore, the position and shape of the toner discharge port 4 can be freely designed to some extent by the restriction from the image forming apparatus main body side.

For example, the toner discharge port 4 shown in FIG.
In the case of -1, an arc-shaped opening is provided in the front end wall 1b so that the lowest point is always opened even when the toner container 1 swings. The discharge port 4-2 shown in FIG. 7B has an opening at the center of the swing, and the opening always keeps a constant position even when the toner container 1 swings. In this case, the conical portion 1 narrowed in the axial direction from the axial middle portion of the toner container 1 to the toner discharge port 4-2 at the end portion.
d, and a half of the cone angle is smaller than the torsion angle of the guide blade 2, and the guide blade 2 is also present in the conical portion 1d.

In any case, the toner discharge port 4 is connected to the toner receiving port (toner hopper 201) of the image forming apparatus main body 14 side.
c), and the toner supplied from the toner container 1 can be used for image formation.

It should be noted that the driving means in the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned means for rotating the motor in the normal or reverse direction, and any means can be used as long as it gives the toner container 1 a swinging motion. good.

For example, as another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, a mechanism that converts a rotary motion into a reciprocating motion using a link may be used.

In FIG. 8, the toner container 1 is fixed to a holder 30 which is supported so as to be swingable about O. A pin 31 is provided on the holder 30 at a distance R from the center O in the radial direction.
Is rotatably engaged with one end. The other end of the link 32 is rotatably engaged with a pin 33 provided at a distance r from the center of the shaft 34a on the periphery of a disk 34 having a shaft 34a rotatably supported. Here, R> r. If a rotational motion is given to the disk 34 by a motor or the like (not shown),
The holder 30 swings via the link 32, and the toner container 1 swings.

(Embodiment 2) Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.

Parts not particularly described here are the same as in the first embodiment.

In FIG. 9, the toner container 1 has the same shape in the axial direction with a cross section cut into a chord, and has a flat surface 6 at the bottom corresponding to the chord. The toner guide plates 7 have a flat plate shape and are alternately mounted on the flat surface 6.
The guide plates 7 have guide blades 7L1, 7L2, 7L3, 7L4 obliquely arranged at equal pitches from the center of the cylinder of the toner container 1 toward the toner outlet 4 and to the left, and the toner outlet from the center of the cylinder. The guide vanes 7R1, 7R2, 7R3, which are obliquely provided toward 4 and rightward, are provided alternately.

FIGS. 9 (a), 10 (a) and 11 (a)
FIG. 9 is a horizontal sectional view of the toner container 1, and FIGS.
0 (b) and FIG. 11 (b) correspond to FIG.
(A), FIG. 10 (a), FIG. 11 (a) is a sectional view perpendicular to the axis. FIGS. 9A, 9B, 10B, and 11B show how toner is transported when observed from a direction perpendicular to the plane 6 (arrows in the figure). FIG.
0 (a) and FIG. 11 (a).

When the toner container 1 swings clockwise as viewed from the rear end wall 1a as in the first embodiment, FIG.
As shown by the black arrow in FIG. 7A, the toner slides down along the guide plate 7.

Next, when the toner container 1 starts to swing counterclockwise as viewed from the rear end wall 1a side, the toner starts to move in the direction indicated by the white arrow in FIG. After passing through the position, the state shown in FIG. 11 is reached. FIG.
9 (a), the toner moves as indicated by the black arrow, and FIG.
In contrast, the toner is moved to the opposite side with respect to the axis of the toner container 1 and at the same time reaches the guide plate 7 closer to the discharge side. If the swinging of the toner container 1 in the counterclockwise direction on the opposite side as viewed from the rear end wall side continues from FIG.
3A, the toner starts moving in the direction indicated by the white arrow, and further moves to the toner discharge port 4 side.

By repeating these steps, the toner is gradually conveyed to the toner outlet 4.

Since the toner container 1 has the flat surface 6 at the bottom in the second embodiment, the flat surface 6 forms a slope when the toner container 1 swings and tilts. Also has the effect that the toner slips off. That is, the toner is transported by the inclination of both the guide plate 7 and the flat surface 6, so that the toner can be transported more efficiently.

In the above description, the shape of the toner container (container main body) has been described as having a cross section of a circle or a missing circle. However, the shape is not limited to this, and the cross section may be a polygon, for example, a square or an oval. Also, the longitudinal direction of the container body is not limited to the same cross-section, but the size of the cross-section is changed in the longitudinal direction (axial direction) like a combination of a cylinder and a cone as described in the embodiment. Is also good.

Further, in the embodiment, the guide blade is provided in the toner container. However, the present invention is not limited to the blade shape, and it is apparent that the toner passage formed between the guide blades may be provided in a groove shape. Therefore, the guide blades may have a triangular cross section, for example, and may be erected from the inner wall of the toner container as a wide base of the triangular shape.

Although the guide blades are erected from the inner wall of the toner container, they may be inclined with respect to the inner wall of the toner container.

The space between the guide blade root and the inner wall of the toner container may be smoothly curved by a curved surface such as an arc.

The projection provided inside the container body is not limited to a plate. Also, the pitch of the projections is not necessarily constant, and the pitch may be gradually changed in the axial direction according to the purpose.

[0074]

As described above, the present invention has the following effects. (1) The number of parts and the number of assembling steps of the toner container are reduced, and the manufacturing cost is reduced. (2) Since the toner container has no bearing seal mechanism, the rotational torque does not increase. (3) Since there is no bearing seal mechanism in the toner container, there is no leakage of toner from this portion. (4) Coarse particles in which the toner is melted and fixed in the toner container are not generated. (5) The shape of the container body of the toner container has a degree of freedom, and the space of the image forming apparatus body can be effectively used. (6) The capacity of the toner container can be increased. (7) The used toner container can be easily recycled.
That is, it can be reused only by cleaning without integral wear. Further, since the entire toner container can be made of the same resin, it is easy to recycle it into a molding material by pulverizing without disassembling and sorting. (8) Even after long-term transportation and storage, the toner can be loosened and discharged reliably without shaking before mounting the toner container on the image forming apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

 The drawings show embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toner container shown in a partial cross section.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show a first embodiment, in which FIG. 2A is a horizontal sectional view of a toner container, and FIG.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show the first embodiment, in which FIG. 3A is a horizontal sectional view of a toner container, and FIG. 3B is a sectional view perpendicular to the axis of FIG.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show a first embodiment, in which FIG. 4A is a horizontal sectional view of a toner container, and FIG. 4B is a sectional view perpendicular to the axis of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a toner supply device of the image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a part of a toner container opening means.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are front views each showing a modification of the first embodiment, and FIG. 7C is a plan view of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing another toner supply device.

FIG. 9A is a horizontal sectional view of the second embodiment,
(B) is a sectional view perpendicular to the axis of (a).

FIG. 10A is a horizontal sectional view of the second embodiment,
(B) is a sectional view perpendicular to the axis of (a).

FIG. 11A is a horizontal sectional view of the second embodiment,
(B) is a sectional view perpendicular to the axis of (a).

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view for explaining toner supply of the image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Toner container 1a ... Rear end wall 1b ... Front end wall 1
d: conical portion 2: guide blade 2L1, 2L2, 2L3: left-handed guide blade 2R1, 2R2, 2R3, 2R4: right-handed guide blade 2E: lowermost end portion 3: flange portion 3a: gear 4: toner discharge port 4 -1,4-2 ... toner discharge port 5 ... cap 5a ... convex part 5b ... groove 6 ... plane 7 ... guide plate 7L1, 7L2, 7L3, 7L4, 7R
1, 7R2, 7R3 ... guide blade 10 ... holder 11 ... idler gear 12 ... gear 13 ... motor 14 ... apparatus body 21 ... door 21a ... pivot 22 ... gear part 23 ... opener 23a ... U groove 23b ... rack part 30 ... holder 31 ... Pin 32: Link 33: Pin 34: Disk 34a: Shaft 101: Original document 102: Original platen glass 103: Optical unit 104: Photoconductor drum 105: Paper feed cassette 105A: Paper feed separation device 106: Paper feed cassette 106A: Feed Paper separation device 107: paper feed cassette 107A: paper feed separation device 108: paper feed cassette 108A: paper feed separation device 109: transport section 110: registration roller 111: transfer charger 112: separation charger 113: transport section 114: fixing Unit 115: paper discharge reversing unit 116: paper discharge roller 117: paper discharge tray 118: flutter Per 119 ... refeeding path 120 ... refeeding path 201 ... developing device 201a ... developing roller 201b ...
Developing blade 201c Toner hopper 202 Cleaning device 203 Primary charger P Paper a, b, c, d, e, f, g passage

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yutaka Tomo 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Kyota Miyazaki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon (72) Inventor Kazuhiko Omata 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Shohei Takeda 3-30-2, Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (20)

[Claims] A hollow cylindrical toner container having a protrusion extending inside the toner discharge port and having a lead extending to the left and right sides from the center to the left and right sides when viewed from the axial direction. Oscillating means for supporting the toner container and oscillating the toner container so that the left and right protrusions alternately ascend and descend when viewed from the axial direction. The toner in the toner container is moved to the toner outlet while stirring, and the toner is sent out from the toner outlet. 2. A projection which is used horizontally and has a lead extending to the toner discharge port from left and right sides to the left and right sides alternately in the left and right directions as viewed from the axial direction. And a hollow cylindrical container main body having a toner discharge port in the portion and the projection on the inner wall. 3. The toner container according to claim 2, wherein the left and right projections have an overlapping portion when the container body is viewed from the axial direction. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the lower end of the left or right projection forms a passage through which toner passes between the left and right projections and the opposite projection. The toner container as described in the above. 5. The toner container according to claim 2, wherein the toner outlet is plugged with a cap after the container body is filled with toner. 6. The toner container according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion is a plate-like guide member. 7. The toner container according to claim 2, wherein the container body has a cylindrical shape and has a toner outlet at the center of the cylindrical end plate. 8. The container according to claim 2, wherein the container main body has a cylindrical shape, and has a long toner discharge port on the left and right sides of the swinging neutral position in an end plate of the cylinder near the bottom of the cylinder. Toner container. 9. The container body according to claim 2, wherein the container body is cylindrical, and each of the protrusions is helical around the center of the circumference of the container body. 4. The toner container according to claim 1. 10. The container according to claim 2, wherein the container main body has a horizontal bottom surface which cuts the cylinder at the bottom of the cylinder, and the projection is linear. Toner container. 11. The container body is used so as to be swingable about the center of the container body, and at the dead center of the swinging movement, the lowermost end of the projection is lowered from the center of the container body. The toner container according to any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein the toner container is located at a position farther to the dead center side than a perpendicular line. 12. The toner container according to claim 2, wherein the container body has a right cylindrical shape. 13. The container main body has a hollow cylindrical portion, and a hollow conical portion that decreases in diameter toward the toner outlet side concentrically with the cylindrical portion following the cylindrical portion. 10. Any one or one of claims 2 to 9
2. The toner container according to 1. 14. The container body, wherein a gear that meshes with a gear of the image forming apparatus main body is integrally or fixedly provided on the outer periphery when mounted on the image forming apparatus main body at the same center as the container main body. The toner container according to any one of claims 2 to 13, wherein: 15. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for mounting a toner container, receiving toner supply, and forming an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum; b. Developing means for developing the latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum using toner; c. It is used horizontally and has a protrusion extending from the center to the left and right sides alternately to the left and right from the center to the left and right when viewed from the axial direction. A hollow cylindrical container body provided with the protrusion on the inner wall,
Mounting means for removably mounting a toner container filled with toner, d. Rocking means for rocking the toner container mounted on the mounting means; e. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: a toner hopper for storing toner used in the developing unit that receives toner sent from a toner outlet of a toner container. 16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the toner container has an outer periphery and a gear that is integral with or fixed to the container body at the same center as the container body of the toner container and is swingably supported by the image forming apparatus main body. The electrophotographic image according to claim 15, further comprising a motor capable of rotating forward and reverse, and a gear train driven by the motor, wherein an output gear of the gear train meshes with the gear provided in the toner container. Forming equipment. 17. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said swing means has a holder for mounting a toner container, and has a swing device for swinging said holder. 18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the toner container has a toner discharge port hermetically sealed with a cap, and an opening means interlocked with a door operation for opening and closing the toner container mounting portion of the image forming apparatus main body. 18. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to any one of 15 to 17, 19. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the opening device performs an opening operation when the door is closed. 20. The door, which opens and closes by rotating, has a gear that rotates together with the door concentrically with the center of rotation of the door, and a rack in an opening direction that meshes with the gear. 20. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising an opener supported movably in an opening / closing direction and having an engagement portion with a cap.